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Coach Head a Nashville Business College perfectionist

Nashville
1:13 p.m. CDT April 9, 2014

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John Head, right, receives congratulations April 18, 1973 from H.O. Balls after being named co-coach of the United States women'?s team in the first World Basketball Festival in Lima, Peru, May 15-29. Head coached 11 Balls-sponsored Nashville Business College women teams to national titles.(Photo: Robert Johnson / The Tennessean)Buy Photo

And when the game wasn't unfolding on the court the way he wanted, he would look piercingly at his players and "dress them down with a stare," Ron Head said.

Still, his players revered him.

"He probably forgot more basketball than most people will ever know," former player Judy Coble said.

The Nashville Business College dominated the Amateur Athletic Union by winning 11 titles in its history, including eight consecutive from 1962 to 1969. Business college student Nera White, right, and a teammate pose in this undated photo. Submitted photo

Some of the USA Women basketball team players, including Nera White, second from left, of the Nashville Business College, are honored in Nashville on Oct. 29, 1957, after defeating the unbeaten USSR team 51-48 to win the 1957 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, The Banner Archives, photo by Paul Schleicher

USA Women basketball coach John Head, right, looks on at his team, which includes several Nashville Business College players, on the steps of the War Memorial Building in Nashville during the celebration for the team's victory over the USSR. Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, The Banner Archives, photo by Paul Schleicher

Members of the Nashville Business College, including Nera White, third from left, who were part of the USA Women basketball team, hug as they are honored in Nashville in celebration of their world championship. Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, The Banner Archives, photo by Paul Schleicher

Members of the Nashville Business College who were part of the USA Women basketball team mingle during their world championship celebration in Nashville. Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, The Banner Archives, photo by Paul Schleicher

Nera White, center, is shown during the USA Women basketball team's world championship celebration in Nashville. Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, The Banner Archives, photo by Paul Schleicher

Nashville Business College basketball players Joan Crawford, left, and Jill Upton are greeted by their coach, John Head, upon their return home May 12, 1961, from Russia and Sweden. The women were members of a U.S. team that made an eight-game tour of Russia plus one game in Stockholm. Crawford was high scorer of the team with 131 points. Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, The Banner Archives, photo by Bill Goodman

Members of the Nashville Business College and USSR women's basketball teams get a few pointers on the game of hockey from Dixie Flyers player-coach John McLellan, center, Nov. 11, 1962 at the Municipal Auditorium. The women are Sue Gunter, left, and Edie Keaton of NBC, Lidia Antanikovskaya and Ludmila Kukanova of the Soviets, and Sandy Fiete of NBC. Frank Empson/The Tennessean

Sally Nerren, raising her hands, Judy Coble (33) of NBC and Betty Scott of Wayland fight for the ball during a basketball game at Litton High School gym, which Wayland won 44-42 for the Nashville Business College Jan. 21, 1963. Gerald Holly/The Tennessean

Nera White, left, of the Nashville Business College boldly lays claim to the basketball against Iowa Wesleyan at Litton High School's gym Dec. 16, 1963. With her back to White is Peg Peterson (22) of Wesleyan, and watching is White's teammate, Mary Garber (45). Wesleyan won the game 51-44. Dale Ernsberger/The Tennessean

John Head, right, receives congratulations on April 18, 1973, from H.O. Balls after being named co-coach of the USA Women's team in the first World Basketball Festival in Lima, Peru, May 15-29. Head coached 11 Balls-sponsored Nashville Business College women teams to national titles. Robert Johnson/The Tennessean

At her farm in Macon County near Lafayette, Tenn., on May 1, 1992, Nera White looks back on a basketball career that won her many honors. She came to Nashville in 1954 and began a career in which she led the Nashville Business College to 10 Amateur Athletic Union national titles during 15-years. Kats Barry/The Tennessean

Nera White poses in May 1992 with some of the awards she won while playing basketball for the Nashville Business College, which she helped lead to 10 Amateur Athletic Union national titles during a 15-year career. Kats Barry/The Tennessean

Doris Rogers, at her home July 27, 1999, played basketball for the Nashville Business College from 1961 to 1969. During her tenure, the team won eight consecutive national championships. Lisa Nipp/The Tennessean

Judy Coble, who played basketball for the Nashville Business College from 1959 to 1965, stands next to the team's national championship trophy on March 31, 2014. She donated the award to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Nashville. Samuel M. Simpkins/The Tennessean

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And even half a century later, his lessons still linger with women like former player Doris Rogers.

"I remember him telling me on my first day of practice in 1961, 'Practice doesn't make perfect. It's perfect practice that makes perfect,'" she said. "If you keep practicing the same thing wrong you will never get any better. I have never forgotten that."

These women, rest assured, were practicing right.

"I would just marvel at the precision of how they would carry out their assignments," said Ron Head, now 71, who watched the team from the time he was 7 years old.

Watch Nashville Business College play against Wayland Baptist (Texas) during the 1967-68 season. Video courtesy Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.